top gun 1 champion - Model Airplane News

The 13th annual Top Gun Scale Invitational, held April 25 to April 29, 2001, was attended by 67 of the best scale modelers from
the U.S. and around the world. This year, as always, Model Airplane News teamed up with Pacer Technology (the Zap Gang) as
the primary sponsors of the famous West Palm Beach, FL, event. As in the past, the Palm
Beach Aero Club did a bang-up job of hosting. For many modelers, this annual extravaganza is
the pinnacle of scale competition, and I have to agree with that thought. Every year, I'm amazed
to see the thousands of spectators who fill the bleachers, and this year was no exception.
School kids and their parents, modelers from all over the world and many local residents
packed the stands to cheer for their favorite models and competitors. You simply have to see it
to really appreciate how well regarded this event is by those who come to witness the show.
And it is a show!
The
greatest
scale
show on
earth!
f i s t PLACE EXPERT
Terry Nitsch earned the firstplace Expert award for an
unprecedented sixth time.
Flying his twin turbine-powered
BVM Rafale B-01, Terry also
captured the coveted "Mr. Top
Gun" title by besting Jeff Foley
(first place in Designer) by only
% point. This was both Terry's
and Jeff's 12th year of competition at Top Gun.
TOP GUN 1
CHAMPION
1st PLACE DESIGN
32
MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS
Bill Stevik prepares his beautiful
FiberClassics P-51
for another round.
Flown by Dean
DiGiorgio, the
Mustang earned
the pair a firstplace win in Team.
Winning both the Best Civilian and the
Engineering Excellence awards, this twinturbine-powered Airbus A-330 was entered
in Team by Peter Michel and was flown by
full-size airliner pilot Stephan Durrstein.
After making several impressive flights, the
huge Airbus fell victim to the infamous Polo
Grounds crosswind.
First place in
Designer Scale
was won by Jeff
Foley with his Me
109E. Powered by
a Moki 1.8, the
Messerschmitt
also won the Best
2-Stroke
Performance
award.
Sponsored by ZAP and Model Airplane News
TOP 2001GUN
Scale helicopters at Top
Gun? I had heard earlier
that scale helicopters
were going to be there.
When I arrived, I found
that this was true, as the
heli static judging had
already begun. Seeking
out the contest director
for the helicopters, I found David Sweatt hard at work rounding up
the contestants.
How did scale helicopters get invited to Top Gun? For one thing,
through David's hard work and perseverance. He had joined an
Internet chat room discussion about scale helis, and Top Gun came
up. David asked, "Has Frank Tiano ever been asked to include scale
helis at the Top Gun event?" The answer was no, so David emailed a
note about it to Frank. To David's surprise, Frank said, "Bring them
on!" After that, David went to work lining up sponsors, contestants
and a host of other behind-the-scenes activities to bring the special
event together.
To test the waters, this year's heli participation was for static
competition only. Frank felt that such a test was needed to see how
helicopters would be received at Top Gun, and from what I saw,
they were very well received indeed! From the fixed-wing pilots and
spectators to Frank himself, all were amazed at the quality, level of
Helicopter
make the
scene at »
Top Gurij
i
t
Completely detailed inside an,dx>u.tf jflrMptmrfrff-fr gorgeous
•
Aerospatiale Lama built by Peter Wales has the distinct H6ii6rHt'"••'
being the. very first Top Gun Helicopter winner. Powered by a
Zenoah G-3ff gasoline engine, Peter's Lama looked as though he
had sprinkled magic dvst onto a full-size Lama to miniaturize it
for Top Gun. Peter also earned the Beat Civiliaii and Critics'
Choice awards with his impressive helicopter.
34 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS
detail and sheer size of these spectacular machines. Curious modelers and spectators continuously eyeballed the helis and asked the
builders questions.
ASK, AND THEY SHALL COME
So, who were the first heli contestants at Top Gun, and how did they
get invited? David used the same criteria as for fixed-wing craft and
invited the top scale heli modelers from around the U.S. and across
the Atlantic.
The UK's premier scale modeler, Len Mount, accepted the Top
Gun challenge and brought with him a very large, scale, Eurocopter
EC-155B Dauphin that he manufactures and sells worldwide. Other
modelers in attendance were Dale Wilkins with his Aerospatiale
HELICOPTER AWARDS
Place
Name
Model
Static score
Peter Wales
Len Mount
Jerry Hicks
Russell Matteini
Mike Robbins
Lama
Dauphin
Bell 412
Long Ranger III
Apache
96.833
96.667
93.917
93.917
91.250
Top to bottom: the fifth-place Heli award went to Mike Robbins for his
impressive McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache. Excel mechanical parts
and an O.S. .61 engine are buried deep within this good-looking Army
attack helicopter. • Doug Bruns's Bell 47 was equipped with cropdusting sprayers and hopper tanks. Doug took home a seventh-place
award. An O.S. engine and Vario mechanicals control this popular
whirlybird. • Missing the first-place slot by less than % point was this
Eurocopter EC-155B Dauphin built by Len Mount. The beautiful
EC-1S5B also earned the Best Cockpit award.
Tiger and Doug Bruns with his Bell 47. Renowned scale heli modeler
Jerry Hicks was also there with his beautiful Bell 412, which he manufactures and sells. Rounding out the field was this year's WRAM show firstplace heli winner Mike Robbins with his McDonnell Douglas AH-64
Apache, Russell Matteini with his Long Ranger III and Peter Wales and
his scale Aerospatiale Lama. The level of precision shown on Peter's
Lama was nothing short of amazing; not even the smallest detail was
overlooked. It left me wondering how he shrank a full-size Lama!
Just like the fixed-wing contest, the helicopter competition was very
close, as Peter Wales earned the first-place Top Gun Helicopter award,
followed closely by Len Mount, who finished second by less than half a
point.
So what does the future hold for helicopters and Top Gun? Much, I
hope. There is talk of helis returning next year, and if everything works
out, a flying competition will be held for them, as well. I can hardly wait!
Top to bottom: Russell Matteini earned fourth place with this
"News 6" Long Ranger III. A Rossi .60 heli engine is used for
power, and Vario mechanicals are used throughout. • Also from a
Vario kit, Dale Wilkins' Aerospatiale Tiger Attack helicopter placed
sixth. • Placing third was this colorful Bell 412 entered by Jerry
Hicks. Jerry uses his own ScaleHouse fuselage kit and Excel
mechanicals for this gas-powered model.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Cockpit
Best Civilian
Best Military
Critics' Choice
Len Mount, Dauphin
Peter Wales, Lama
Mike Robbins, Apache
Peter Wales, Lama
HELI STATIC JUDGES
Bill DeVerna
Sean Curry
Steve Harris
Michael Bacon
Len Bechtold
AUGUST 2001
35
WINNERS
DESIGNER CLASS
Pos.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Pilot
Aircraft
Foley
Ziroli Jr.
Violett
Vaillancourt
Parenti
Roane
Benjamin
Underwood
Torres
Patton
Polapink
Ziroli Sr.
Hayes
Feroldi
Platt
Nelson
Fogarty
Wilkinson
1
/4 5Bf-109E
/6 Avenger
A7F-100D
% Typhoon
%.s Fireball
37% Shoestring
1
/4 Aeronca K
1
/6.7 Stormovik
!6 Cessna O2A
1
1
1
/4 T-34C
1
/4 Pfalz D lla
VA Stearman N2S
1
/7 Ayres Thrush
1
/6 Dh-2 Airco
VA Magister
VA Waco YK-57
VA Ercoupe 415D
1
/fe Stuka Ju-87A
Span
(in.)
86
108
70
97
72
85
108
83
91
111
94
87
83
113
102
93
90
90
Weight
(Ib.)
24
45
32
35
20
16
15
19
23
53
23
32
15
35
25
32
22
21
Power
Prop
Radio
Plans/kit
Gear mfr.
Fuel
Moki 1.8
Eagle 4.2
AMT
Q-75
YS 1.20
Saito180
AstroFlight 60G
K&B100
O.S. 70 4c x2
3W 4.9 Twin
Moki 1.8
Robart 7 Cyl.
RCV120
Sachs 4.2
Moki 2.10
Seidel 7 Cyl.
Moki 1.8
G-38
18x10
Zinger 24x10
Turbine
Zinger 24x12
16x8
APC 16x8
18x12
APC 15x8
Zinger 14x6
24x10
Zinger 18x8
24x12
15.5x12.5 4b
24x10
APC 20x10
Moki 22x10
APC 18x8
18x6-10
JR PCM
Airtronics
JR
JR
Airtronics
Futaba
Airtronics
Airtronics
Futaba
Futaba
Airtronics
Airtronics
JRPCM
Futaba
Futaba
Airtronics
Futaba 9z
Airtronics
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Platt
Robart
BVM
Likes
Self
Omega
61
114
80
110
105
68
86
58
110
120
89
92
84
70
109
80
88
82
102
72
85
100
89
82
68
76
80
118
80
35
45
22
17
14
40
19
28
45
39
19
35
14
20
52
22
24
18
36
50
28
35
24
32
23
22
22
39
22
AMT
Turbine
JR
G-38x2
20x10
JR PCM 10x
O.S. 160 Twin Zinger 16x6-1 OAirtronics
Laser 150
Zinger 18x6 Futaba 8
Master 16x6 Airtronics
O.S. Ft 160
RAM 750 x2
Turbine
Graupner
O.S. 1.08
APC 15x8
Airtronics
Turbine
Futaba
RAM 1000
Futaba
3W120CC
32x10
ZDZ 60 RV
Futaba 8
Clark 24x8
O.S. 160
18x6
Airtronics
Sachs 5.8
Moki 26x10 Airtronics
O.S. 40 4 Cyl. x2 11x6
Futaba
RAM 750
Turbine
JR
Z-445
Bolly
JR10x
G-38
JRPCM
20x6
G-38
20x6
Futaba
Moki 2.1
APC 20x10 JR10x
Cheetah 42 x2 16x10
Airtronics
RAM 750 x2
Turbine
Futaba
JR
RAM 750P
Turbine
22x12
Futaba 9
3W-60
G-62
22x10
JR
RAM 1000
Turbine
JR
AMT
Turbine
JR
JR PCM 10
RAM 750
Turbine
Moki 1.8
APC 18x8
Futaba
Laser 150 x2
JR
16x8
Moki 1.8
16x8 3-blade Futaba 9z
BVM kit
Ziroli plan
Scratch
J. Bates plan
Nosen kit
BVM kit
Smith plan
Av. Design kit
Proctor kit
Scratch
Clements plan
Ziroli plan
MAN plan
BVM kit
Aero Mag.
D. Bryant plan
Barkley kit
Bates plan
Johnson plan
Yellow kit
JMP kit
Ziroli plan
Yellow kit
JMP kit
BVM kit
Rhom
Holman/Bryant
Smith
R. Torres
Platt
Air Magic
—
Effinger
CJM
Annco
—
BVM
Robart
—
Self
Robart
JMP
Yellow
JMP
Likes
Yellow
JMP
BVM
FiberClassics
Self
Century Jet
Robart
Jet-A
Shell
C. Power
Wildcat
Wildcat
Jet-A
Wildcat
Jet-A
Gas
Gas
Morgan
Gas
Omega
JP4
Gas
Gas
Gas
Omega
Gas
Jet-A
Jet-A
Gas
Wildcat
Jet-A
Jet-A
Jet-A
Wildcat
Wildcat
Sig-Fai
Weight
(in.)
36
27
26
35
24
Power
(Ib.)
3W80
MaxCim x4
RAM 1000
RAM 1000x2
3W-70
Brison 4.2
Eagle 3.2
G-45
B&D 5.1
RAM 1000
Moki 3.6
G-62
3W 70cc
G-62
3W48
3W 120B1
Jet Cat P80
AMT 280
RAM 750
Aveox
Sefl
m B
Self
Self • • — — " * "
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
Self
—
Self
Robart
—
—
—
—
—
—
Self
Self
Gas
Jet-A
Gas
Byron
Red Max
Sanyo
K&B 500
Sig
Gas
Cool Power
Home
Omega
Exxon
Wildcat
Red Max
Wildcat
Gas
EXPERT CLASS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Nitsch
Hahn
Miller
Foster
Tacie
Diaz
Rice
Campana
Barbee
Chevalier
Sousa
Steffes
Kretz
Mirandes
Hendrickson
Gross
Winter
Johnson
Czikk
Matthews
McCaulley
Denicola
Snyder
Rafalowski
Weiss
Alvarez
Bartkus
Voglund
Benson
% Rafale B-01
Vr P-61 Blk. Widow
1
A Globe Swift
1
/4 de Havilland 9H
!4 Aeronca L-16A
% RAFALE B-01
1
/6.5 Ki-61 Tony
1
/6F-16
Vz WACO YMF-5
V3 Tri-Pacer
VA Culver Cadet
% P-47D
1
/i2 Dornier Do-23G
!6 P-80A
1
/4 T-34A
VA SE5a
VA Tiger Moth
% P-36 Curtis
% F-82B
1
//F-18 Hornet
% T-33A
% Skyraider
% Spitfire Mk.9
% T-33A
!«MiG-15
% F-86F
% Focke Wulf 190
teMe-110
Vo Beech T-34C
BVM
Robart
—
—
—
BVM
TEAM CLASS
Pos.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Builder/pilot
Aircraft
Span
Stevik/DiGiorgio
Maiorana/Pinegar
Leonard/Malchione
Grice/Shulman
Schmidt/Zoun
Siewert/Sandquist
Salles/Esteves
Cassidy/Stokes
Donofrio/Greco
Araujo/Gonzalez
Mears/Patrick
Berastain/Swift
Berton/McCallie
Mangudo/Testa
Selby/Lim
Tiano/Christensen
Michel/Durrstein
Hogan/Patton
Frankel/Stemer
Elias/Shaw
1
102
115
52
64
106
82
104
80
156
64
144
/4.5 P-51 D
/t5 TU-4
1
Vs F-4 Phantom
% Rafale
Vi Zlin-526
fe P-47
Vi Spacewalker
% P-47
VA Sikorsky S-39B
Vi Rafale B
Vi Super Cub
V4PT-19
Vs Zero M3 Hamp
Vs SNJ-5
% F7F Tigercat
% F8F Bearcat
Vi6 Airbus A-330
% Panther F9F
Vr Skyray F4D-1
% FW-44
36 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS
114
91.5
101
122
101
150
85
59
71
31
22
30
45
38
42
36
31
25
48
46
49
38
25
17
Prop
Radio
Plans/kit
Gear mfr.
Fuel
24x12
13x10
Turbine
Turbine
22x10
Zinger 22x10
Moki 22x10
18x10
Syntec
Turbine
24x10
Moki 22x10
22x12
Moki 22x10
21x12
Menz
Turbine
Turbine
Turbine
Moki 16x10
JR
Futaba
JR
JR
Futaba
Futaba
JR
Futaba
Futaba
Airtronics
Futaba
Futaba
JR
Airtronics
Graupner
JR
MC-24
JR
Futaba
Futaba
FiberClassics
—
BVM
BVM
German
Aerotech
Sig
Yellow
Self
BVM
—
Ziroli plan
Platt plan
Ziroli plan
FFC
3W
Michel
CAI
Self
FiberClassics
—
BVM
BVM
—
Robart
Gas
Electric
Jet-A
Jet-A
—
Gas
Gas
Gas
Jet-A
Special
Gas
Gas
Gas
Exxon
K&W
Robart
—
BVM
—
—
Century Jet
Robart
Robart
Century Jet
Hawe
Robart
Platt
Gas
Gas
Gas
Jet-A
Jet-A
Jet-A
Electric
Finish
Static score
Flight score
Total
Polyester resin & K&B
Auto paint
PPG Automotive
Acrylic lacquer
Glass and Hobby Poxy
Super Coverite/dope
Stitts System
Cloth, Coverite, paint
K&B Epoxy
PPG Automotive
Sig dope and fabric
Stits
Glass and K&B paint
Sig Coverall/dope
Hobby Poxy
Stits
Cloth and Du Pont paint
Acrylic enamel
97.083
97.583
96.5
94.833
91.417
93.167
96.500
91.667
94.417
94.458
90.75
95.917
90.583
83.5
86.083
83.292
71.583
191.541
191.375
191.333
185.291
183.584
182.75
182.667
182.209
181.917
181.333
179.417
177.833
177.042
166.166
166.084
133.209
95.333
93.833
PPG Automotive
Zpoxy w/auto acrylic
Polyurethane
Auto Acrylic
Sig dope
PPG Concept
PPG
PPG
Stits w/auto acrylic
Coverite butyrate dope
Stits System
PPG
Chevron paint
PPG
PPG Automotive
Dope, lacquer
Stits
Hobby Poxy
Auto lacquer
PPG Concept Series
PPG Automotive System
Fiberglass & Hobby Poxy
PPG Auto
PPG
PPG
Capt'n Butch Aluminum
PPG
Hobby Poxy
Lacquer/clearcoat
96.25
94.833
94.417
93.917
93.25
94.333
91.667
93.917
94.667
95.5
93.917
91.083
92.25
88.333
91.083
96.583
90.167
85.083
87.25
91.25
92.083
88.333
77.417
92.417
88.667
88
87.417
86.417
86.25
Finish
Static score
Nitrate dope
Aluminum foil tape
PPG Concept paint
PPG
PPG
PPG auto paint
Auto enamel
Aluminum sheets
Randolf dope
PPG auto paint
Endura
Automotive finish
Hobby Poxy
PPG
PPG
Hobby Poxy
Original Airbus paint
PPG System
PPG
Solartex/enamel
96.25
96.917
97.333
97.75
95.083
97.25
97
94
97
94.333
97.833
92.25
96.583
89.667
91.833
90.583
95.667
91.75
92.75
90.417
91.75
93.75
94.583
90.667
95.917
95.333
89.833
93.792
94.833
90.458
92.167
89.583
86.167
90.542
87.5
75.417
37.292
0
4
95.542
96.417
93.458
92.375
92.75
90.208
91.5
88
86.417
85.083
86.167
88.958
87.625
91
87.875
81.833
86.375
89.458
86.875
81.083
191.792
191.25
187.875
186.292
186
184.541
183.167
181.917
181.084
180.583
180.084
180.041
179.875
179.333
178.958
178.416
176.542
174.541
174.125
172.333
76.625
168.708
17.042
135.708
94.459
47.375
Top: a heckuva lot of people behind the scenes make Top Gun
the great event that it is. Here, all the judges take a break from
their appointed rounds to smile for our camera. A better, more
experienced group of hard workers could not be found anywhere. Above left: that's Bob Curry on the right with his friend,
Lee Henderson, taking a break from the rigors of static judging.
Bob has been a judge for all 13 years of Top Gun. Now, that's
dedication! Above right: regular Model Airplane News contributor
and past Top Gun contestant Rich Uravitch donned the
Craftsmanship Judge cap at the 2001 event. Here, he closely
inspects Bob Violett's F-100D.
92.417
88.667
88
87.417
0
0
86.417
Flight score
Total
95.125
94.167
92.708
90.875
93.333
91.125
89.417
91.708
88
89.708
85.167
90.125
85.125
90
86.958
79.25
15.833
,6,958.,
86.25
191.375
191.084
190.041
188.625
188.416
188.375
186.417
185.708
185
184.041
183
182.375
181.708
179.667
178.791
169.833
111.5
98.708
92.75
90.417
Top to bottom: Dave Plait again competed in Designer Scale
with his %-scale Miles M. 14 Magister. Dave's British trainer,
which placed 15th, spans 102 inches and is powered by a Moki
2.10. • Flown by Kalvin Lim, this twin 3W-48-powered Tigercat
comes in for a landing. Mike Selby's colorful F7F won the
Critics' Choice award and placed 15th in Team Scale. •
Awarded both the Best Military and the Charlie Chambers
Craftsmanship awards, this Russian TU-4 is the team entry of
George Maiorana and David Pinegar. Powered by four MaxCim
electric motors, the Soviet B-29 copy placed second.
SPONSORS
PRIMARY SPONSORS
Frank Tiano Enterprises
Model Airplane News
Pacer Technology (ZAP)
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
Lanier RC
Pan American Intl.
Van Dell Jewelers
Wildcat Fuels
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
Airtronics
Futaba/O.S. Engines
Irrigation Services
RA Microjets (RAM)
Robart Mfg.
Scale Aircraft Intl.
Super Chips
"Very Generous Friend"
AUGUST 2001 37
TOP2001
GUN
TURBINES RULE
THE JET WAYS
It's no surprise that at an event where the hobby's very best is represented, every model is a showstopper. That goes for the WW I fighters,
the civilian cabin planes and the WW II bombers. The jets, however, get
most of the oohs and aahs at Top Gun! And for the second year in a
row, all the jet pilots competing at the Polo Grounds used turbines to
power their "wow" machines.
Why? Beside the obvious sound and distinct smell emitted by these
kerosene-burning powerplants, the main reasons for the switch to turbine power are reliability and power. Several very good flying models that
were once powered by ducted-fan units are now great flying models that
enjoy an abundance of turbine push. Practically every day, the prices of
these impressive engines decrease a little more, and their complexity is
now at a level where most, if not all, serious scale competitors can easily
and safely operate them with a minimum of effort.
Will turbine models someday replace well-established ducted-fanpowered jets? Probably not; but at Top Gun, turbines rule the jet ways!
Coming in for a "down and dirty" pass, Bob
Violett's North American F-100D shows its
impressive slow-speed characteristics.
Powered by an AMT turbine, the Super Sabre
has a 70-inch wingspan. Bob won the Best
Jet award and placed third in Designer Scale.
Above, left to right: powered by a RAM 750,
this beautifully finished F-86F Sabre jet built
by Rene Alvarez has an impressive 76-inch
span. The 22-pound model is from a
FiberClassics kit and is covered with Capt'n
Butch aluminum. * Finishing eighth in Expert,
this colorful F-16 Fighting Falcon was built by
Gustav Campana from an Air Magic kit.
Powered by a RAM 1000 turbine, the model
has a 58-inch span and a PPG finish.
• Entered in Team Scale by Mark Frankel and
Kerry Sterner, this beautiful F4D-1 Skyray,
Mark's own design, was powered by a RAM 750. The 1/r-scale
jet has a 59-inch span. Second row, left to right: powered by
twin Jet Cat P80 turbines, this striking Airbus A-330 was the
Team entry of Peter Michel and Stephan Durrstein. The
scratch-built 150-inch-span airliner was 1/i6-scale and weighed
49 pounds. • Built from a
Yellow Aircraft kit, this F-18
placed 20th in Expert. Built by
Davie Mathews, the Hornet is
powered by two RAM 750 turbines and has a 72-inch span.
Flown by Dave Malchione Jr. in Team Scale with Sam Leonard, this F-4
Phantom is powered by a RAM 1000. It came in third.
38 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS
Left: Lewis Patton (kneeling,
center) talks about his Crow
Aviation F9F Panther. Entered
in Team Scale with Hogan
Selby, the Panther is powered
by an AMT 280 turbine and has
an 85-inch span. Below left:
placing 14th in Expert, this
P-80 is the work of Frankie
Mirandes. Built from a BVM kit,
the P-80 is powered by a RAM
750 and has a 70-inch span.
For the contestants and their crews, having
the opportunity to compete at this remarkable
scale event is rewarding in itself. When I arrived
on Thursday, most of the competitors had
already set up camp, and many were preparing
to have their models static-judged. Others were
putting in a few test flights. Though the weathHigh Static Expert winner Mike Gross prepares
for another flight with his SE5a biplane. The
G-38-powered, %-scale British fighter was built
using a Dennis Bryant plan and has an 80-inch
wingspan. Mike came in 16th.
STATIC AWARDS
Pilot
Aircraft
Sponsor
High Static—Designer
Ziroli Jr.
Avenger
Aerotech
High Static—Expert
Gross
SE5a
RA Microjets
High Static—Team
Mears
Super Cub
Ray & Robin's Hobby
Best Civilian Aircraft
Michel
Airbus
Dave Platt Models
Best Jet Aircraft
Viptett
MOOD Super: Sabre
Irrigation Services
Best Military Aircraft
Maiorana
TU-4
Futaba
Best Biplane
Nelson
Red WACO
RC Report
Charlie Chambers Craftsmanship
Maiorana
TU-4
The ZAP Gang
Best Pre-WW II Aircraft
Feroldi
DH-2
Glenn Torrance
Engineering Excellence
Michel
Airbus A-330
Robart Mfg.
Best Cockpit Interior
Hahn
P-61
Scale Intl.
Critics' Choice
Selby
F7F Tigercat
Airtronics/Van Dell Jewelers
Grej Eagle lifetime Achievement
Parenti
Model Airplane News
Top Buns
Barastain
Top Gun Hussies
FLIGHT AWARDS
Best 2-stroke Performance
Foley
BF-109E
Moki Engines
Best 4-stroke Performance
Tacie
Aeronca
Saito Engines
Best Gas Performance
Hahn
P-61
Aircraft Intl.
Best Multi Performance
Hahn
P-61
Ron Norris
er was warm and sunny at the start of the weekend, the infamous "Polo Grounds crosswind"
persisted and really gave the pilots a workout.
Many who were flying lightly loaded WW I and
high-wing aircraft wisely chose to use alternate
runways to help compensate for the wind direction.
Top Gun has three categories of competition:
Expert, Team and Designer Scale. Before the flying begins, everyone's model is static-judged.
Over the years, Frank Tiano has put together
one of the most experienced teams of judges
seen anywhere. Chief judge Bill Holland, assisted by Bill Deverna, guided the many static and
flight judges during the event, and it was amazing how quickly and thoroughly all the models
were judged. (Of particular note was Bob Curry,
who has been a Top Gun static judge since the
competition's inception in 1988—quite a testament to the level of experience found among
the event's judges.) Because of a threatening
storm on Sunday, however, only four flight
rounds were flown this year.
Twenty-nine aircraft were entered in Expert,
18 in Designer and 20 in Team scale. As it was
last year, all of the jets at Top Gun were
turbine-powered; no ducted-fan aircraft were
present. This was the first year that scale helicopters were a part of the event, and the helis
that showed up for the static judging were
amazing (see the sidebar, "Helicopters make the
scene at Top Gun").
Left, top: Nick Ziroli Jr.'s 108-inch-span TBM
Avenger/Tarpon came in second in Designer and
earned the highest static score in Designer
Scale. Left, bottom: the highest static score in
Team Scale went to Graeme Mears and his
'/6-sca/e PA-18. Powered by a Moki 3.6, the
Super Cub has a 144-inch span.
TOP2001
GUN
The Pilots of Top Gun
Electric-powered aircraft continue to participate and show the excellent performance these quieter models possess. In my
opinion, the most spectacular electric was
the Russian TU-4 (B-29 copy) built by
George Maiorana and flown in Team by
David I'inegar. Its performance was solid,
and its flight realism was outstanding. Of
course, there were many outstanding models; each modeler at Top Gun represented
Second place in
Expert went to this
P-61 Black Widow
built and piloted by
Greg Hahn. Powered
by two G-38 gas
engines and built from
a plan by Nick Ziroli,
the impressive model
also earned the Best
Cockpit Interior, Best
Gasoline Engine
Performance and Best
Twin Engine
Performance awards.
42 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS
the very best that our hobby has to offer.
Top Gun is all about flying the best scale
models, and this year's crop of aircraft was
the best I've ever seen. Though this year's
scale competition was very close, it was not
without its casualties. The most heartbreaking loss, I believe, was the crash of Peter
Michel's beautiful, twin-turbine-powered
Airbus A-330. Piloted smoothly for several
flights by team partner Stephan Durrstein,
by Roy Vaillcmcourt
Who really flies these marvelous miniature
aircraft we see at Top Gun? Most people
think it is the guys on the ground holding the
transmitters. But the competitors know that
the really brave ones are the little guys sitting
in the models' cockpits. Most scale modelers spend countless hours applying fine
details such as rivets, screw heads and
panel lines to the surfaces of their models,
but the scale illusion isn't complete without
the human element. The person who lives
and works in the cockpit must also be represented. The pilot figure is a very important
part of any truly scale model aircraft.
At all major scale meets like Top Gun,
you'll see scale pilot figures that show as
much detail as the airplanes themselves.
Some are so realistic that you expect them
to talk to you. Most of these little fellows
start as kits available from any number of
manufacturers, and with a little paint, time
and patience, they can be made to look very
lifelike. Little extras like goggles or an oxygen mask and hose can really make a difference. Adding many other little items can
really make a pilot figure stand out.
When spectators view a scale model up
close, their eyes are naturally drawn to the
space where the pilot sits: the cockpit. If the
front office is vacant or has a funny-looking
doll sitting in the pilot's seat, the scale illusion is incomplete, and the overall effect of
an otherwise accurately built and detailed
model is somehow diminished. Real planes
are flown by real pilots, and scale planes
should always be "flown" by scale pilots.
the impressive 150-inch-span passenger jet
airliner got caught up in a stiff crosswind
and went in. Peter has promised to have a
new Airbus for next year's event.
A SHOW WITHIN A SHOW!
Just like the scale competition at Top Gun,
the event's halftime show is a joint effort by
the show's best pilots and is an extravaganza beloved by the many spectators and con-
TOP 2001
GUN
testants. Orchestrated by Lanier RC's own Bubba Spivey,
the halftime production holds many surprises that repeatedly bring the crowd to its feet.
It began with a demonstration of multiple RC parachute drops and was quickly followed by the hot-dog
hijinks of Bubba and his wingman, Wayne Voyles, both
of whom flew giant Stingers. These Zenoah G-62-powered, smoke-belching models performed aerobatics in formation, often very close to each other—and to the
ground. A rather noisy highlight of the show was the
mock breaking of the scale sound barrier by a turbinepowered jet piloted by Terry Nitsch (also known as the M-
Top Gun
Tech Talk
ENGINES
Zenoah
3W
Moki
O.S.
Eagle
Sachs
B&P
Brison
Cheetah
K&B
Quadra
Robart
Saito
Seldel
YS
ZDZ
RADIOS
Futaba
jp-----Airtronics
Graupner
AIRCRAFT TYPES
Monoplanes
Military
WWII
Jets
Civilian
Biplanes
wwi
59
52
27
16
9
5
RETRACTS
Robart
BVM
Scratch-built
Century Jet Models
Jet Mode Products
Likes Line
Yellow A/C
Air Maqic
FjberClassics
Hawe
TURBINES
RAM
AMT
ELECTRICS
AstroFlight
MaxCim
Aveox
44 MODEL AIRPLANE NEW$
Lee Rice, this Ki-61 Tony
placed seventh in Expert Scale. The
86-inch-span Japanese fighter is
powered by an O.S. 1.08 and was
built from a Don Smith plan.
scale "Captain Salami"). In constant contact with the
crowd via radio, Terry flew his BVM jet to a great height
and then did a speed run down the centerline of the Polo
Grounds. When the model was at center stage, a small
pyrotechnic charge was fired to good effect.
Another show favorite was Don Muddiman and his
model, the Flying Machine. Don performed some of the
wildest hot-dog aviation ever seen from such a small,
unassuming plane. Gary Wright wowed the crowd with
his 3D aerobatic helicopter demonstration. What he did
with a heli was truly magical—would you believe sustained knife-edge flight that almost seemed to defy gravity? To close the show, flying prodigy Jason Schulman did
his usual unbelievable job flying a 3D, aerobatic
sequence using a Lanier 42-percent-scale Sukhoi powered
by a Desert Aircraft DA-150cc gas engine. These pilots
and many others made the halftime show itself worth
the price of admission.
Left, top: Nick Ziroli Sr. piloted his beautiful Stearman N2S
to 12th place in Designer Scale. The 87-inch-span biplane
is powered by a Robart 7-cylinder radial 4-stroke engine.
Left, center: Bob Benjamin competed with his electricpowered Aeronca K cabin plane and placed seventh in
Designer. The beautiful 1/k-scale model is powered by an
AstroFlight motor. Below left: third-place winner in Expert
was Corvin Miller with his Globe Swift. The scratch-built
civilian airplane has an 80-inch span and uses an O.S. 1.60
twin-cylinder engine for power. Below right: placing 16th in
Designer, Charlie Nelson flew his %-scale WACO YK-57
cabin biplane. Powered by a Seidel 7-cylinder engine, the
big bipe had a wingspan of 93 inches. Bottom: the team
entry of Frank Tiano and John Christensen was this big
(101-inch-span) %-scale F8F Bearcat built from the 3W kit.
Powered by a 3W 120B1 twin-cylinder gasoline engine, the
big Bearcat weighed 46 pounds. The team placed 16th.
ACCOLADES
Of course, Top Gun couldn't happen without the generosity of the many sponsors who donate cash, prizes and
awards. To all of them, to the Palm Beach Aero Club
members and to tireless event promoter Frank Tiano goes
the biggest thank you. If you love seeing beautiful scale
models flying and competing head to head, put Top Gun
on the top of your must-see list.
In 2002, Top Gun will not be held at the West Palm
Beach Polo Grounds. It's time for a new venue, and Frank
is currently talking with representatives of several promising new locations. One thing is definite: wherever the
next Top Gun is held, it will be bigger and better than
ever. Frank wouldn't have it any other way. 4-